National Labor Relations Board

News about National Labor Relations Board, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Jun. 4, 2015

Judge Arthur J Achman of the National Labor Relations Board orders Manhattan's elite Dalton School to reinstate David Brune, drama teacher who had been fired after hotly criticizing administrator Ellen Stein via email; Brune was upset with Stein for bowing to pressure from parents who were outraged by racial stereotypes in school's production of musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. MORE

Apr. 20, 2015

United Food and Commercial Workers International Union plans to seek injunction from National Labor Relations Board that would require Walmart to rehire all 2,200 workers who were laid off after abrupt closing of five stores. MORE

Mar. 20, 2015

National Labor Relations Board Administrative Law Judge Christine E Dibble rules employment policies of T-Mobile violate United States labor law by restricting workers' ability to organize and other rights; labor experts say decision could have major repercussions for unions. MORE

Dec. 23, 2014

National Labor Relations Board issues broad ruling in case involving union recruitment at Pacific Lutheran University; decision sets rules about determining which faculty members can join unions and which religious institutions and faculty do not fall under labor board oversight. MORE

Dec. 20, 2014

National Labor Relations Board announces that it has brought 78 charges against McDonald's and some of its franchise operators for violating federal labor law in retaliation against workers' protests for higher wages; move draws outrage from variety of national business groups because it deems company joint employer, status that would make it equally responsible for actions taken at its franchised restaurants. MORE

Dec. 12, 2014

National Labor Relations Board overturns 2007 decision stopping employees from using their company's email for union organizing. MORE

Dec. 6, 2014

National Labor Relations Board Judge Steven Fish rules that Cablevision chief executive officer James L Dolan gave raises illegally to company technicians in Bronx to improperly sway them to vote against unionizing. MORE

Nov. 29, 2014

National Labor Relations Board continues to consider whether scholarship football players at Northwestern University qualify as employees; even if union vote fails, precedent set by the board will remain and could make path to unionization at other universities easier. MORE

Nov. 8, 2014

National Labor Relations Board charges James L Dolan, Cablevision chief executive, with illegally threatening to deny company technicians in Brooklyn a pay increase unless they voted to quit union Communications Workers of America; also asserts Cablevision illegally undermined the union's representation of those workers by sponsoring a nonbinding poll to determine whether they wanted to leave the union. MORE

Aug. 1, 2014

Editorial contends fast-food employees received a well-deserved burst of momentum with National Labor Relations Board ruling that McDonald's is jointly responsible for workers at its franchises; opines that true corporate leaders would find compromise over workers' campaign for higher wages and right to unionize. MORE

Jul. 31, 2014

Businesses across the country are puzzling over National Labor Relations Board's decision that McDonald's is jointly liable for employment actions of its franchise operators, fearing they, too, might fall under that broad umbrella; industry trade groups react angrily to decision, signaling their intention to ask federal courts to overturn it. MORE

Jul. 30, 2014

National Labor Relations Board general counsel rules that McDonald's can be held jointly liable with its franchise operators for labor and wage violations; decision, if upheld, could be disruptive to longtime practices in fast food industry and possibly open door to unionization. MORE

Jun. 27, 2014

Editorial criticizes unanimous Supreme Court decision invalidating several recess appointments made by Pres Obama to the National Labor Relations Board; argues that ruling ignores partisan realities of an intransigent Congress, and could block Obama and his successors from making necessary appointments to executive posts as nation's politics become more sharply polarized. MORE

Apr. 27, 2014

Ruling by National Labor Relations Board that Northwestern’s scholarship football players could unionize leaves unanswered the question of what it means for nation's public universities' scholarship athletes; NLRB has no power over public universities, only over private-sector employers like Northwestern, meaning whether football or basketball players at a public university can unionize is up to its state government. MORE

Apr. 26, 2014

Northwestern University's scholarship football players vote on whether to certify first union in college sports, landmark event that is closely watched by NCAA and politicians across country; votes will be impounded until National Labor Relations Board can review previous decision by regional official, meaning they will likely not be counted for months. MORE

Apr. 25, 2014

National Labor Relations Board in Washington announces that it will review landmark decision that held that Northwestern University’s scholarship football players should be considered employees; decision to consider the case, which was expected and could have tremendous implications for college sports, comes on the eve of a vote by the Northwestern football team on whether to certify a players’ union. MORE

Apr. 22, 2014

United Automobile Workers union unexpectedly announces that it is dropping its effort to have new unionization vote ordered at Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn; decision is based on concern that National Labor Relations Board's adjudication process could drag on for years. MORE

Mar. 28, 2014

Ruling allowing Northwestern University football players to unionize highlights growing battle over how much college players should share in billions of dollars they generate for their schools and National Collegiate Athletic Association; college athletics, however, hardly resemble free market and, unlike private enterprises, sports departments at big schools do not have to be profitable in any strict sense. MORE

Mar. 27, 2014

Peter Ohr, regional director of the National Labor Relations Board, rules that group of football players at Northwestern are employees of the university and have the right to form a union and bargain collectively; ruling could give momentum to push for college athletes to be compensated at a time when the NCAA and its largest conferences are generating billions of dollars, primarily from football and men’s basketball. MORE

Feb. 23, 2014

National Labor Relations Board panel hears testimony concerning whether Northwestern football players should have the right to collectively bargain as university employees; attempt by college players to unionize is a first. MORE

Feb. 22, 2014

United Automobile Workers asks National Labor Relations Board to order a new unionization election at Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn, asserting that union’s loss was due to improper interference by the state’s lawmakers. MORE

Feb. 19, 2014

Northwestern University quarterback Kain Colter, leader of football team's petition to form a union, presents more than four hours of testimony before the National Labor Board; insists that his primary role at university is that of football player, rather than student, and that position amounts to a job. MORE

Feb. 6, 2014

National Labor Relations Board proposes rules that would allow unions to hold workplace elections more quickly; it is encountering resistance from business groups. MORE

Jan. 29, 2014

Group of football players from Northwestern University appeal to the National Labor Relations Board with the first effort by college athletes to join a labor union; labor law dispute could turn on whether college athletes are students, employees or some hybrid. MORE

Jan. 16, 2014

Sweeping complaint filed by National Labor Relations Board says Walmart illegally disciplined or fired employees after strikes and protests for better pay; complaint lists violations of federal law in 14 states involving more than 60 workers and 34 stores. MORE

Dec. 4, 2013

United States Court of Appeals rules employers can require their workers to sign arbitration agreements waiving all rights to class-action lawsuits over workplace grievances; ruling, overturning National Labor Relations Board decision, limits the legal exposure of companies from the rising cost of suits over unpaid overtime and other wage violations. MORE

Nov. 19, 2013

National Labor Relations Board says Walmart illegally disciplined and fired employees over strikes and protests; company denies accusations and says it will defend itself, asserting that its actions are 'legal and justified.' MORE

Jul. 31, 2013

Senate votes to fill all five seats on the National Labor Relations Board, avoiding deadline that would have caused much of board’s work to grind to halt by late August. MORE

Jul. 16, 2013

Blocked political appointments have left the National Labor Relations Board without its full slate of five members throughout the Obama presidency; with its existing appointees being held up in Senate, board is likely to shrink to just two members in August, leaving it without the quorum of three needed to conduct business like enforcing its rulings, or those of its offices across the country. MORE

Jun. 25, 2013

Supreme Court agrees to decide whether Pres Obama violated the Constitution in 2012 when he bypassed the Senate in making three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board; decision could narrow a president's recess appointment power. MORE

May. 27, 2013

Editorial urges Supreme Court to review and overturn ruling that Pres Obama's recess appointments to National Labor Relations Board were unconstitutional; holds that Obama has had to make many recess appointments because Senate Republicans have gone out of their way to make themselves effectively unavailable, refusing to confirm nominees to agencies whose missions they oppose. MORE

May. 10, 2013

Editorial criticizes ruling by federal appeals court dominated by conservative judges, striking down National Labor Relations Board requirement that employers must display poster informing employees about their right to unionize; contends that politically motivated ruling shows why it is important to have balance on the court, which has four vacancies out of 11 seats. MORE

May. 8, 2013

United State Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit strikes down National Labor Relations Board rule requiring most private sector employers to post notice informing employees of their right to unionize; business groups have asserted that move exceeded board's authority and placed improper imposition on nearly six million employers. MORE

Apr. 12, 2013

National Labor Relations Board accuses Cablevision of acting illegally to avoid reaching an agreement with several hundred unionized cable installers in Brooklyn, NY, during battle between the cable company and organized labor that has dragged on for months. MORE

Apr. 10, 2013

Pres Obama announces three nominations to National Labors Relations Board, completing package of five nominees that administration hopes Senate Republicans will approve; nominees are Democrat Mark Gaston Pearce and Republicans Harry I Johnson III and Philip A Miscimarra. MORE

Mar. 13, 2013

Obama administration will appeal to Supreme Court a ruling that Pres Obama violated Constitution when he bypassed Senate to make three recess appointments to National Labor Relations Board in 2012; appeals court decision called into question nearly 200 years of precedent. MORE

Feb. 14, 2013

Pres Obama asks Senate to confirm Democrats Sharon Block and Richard Griffin to the National Labor Relations Board after their recess appointments were rejected by a federal appeals court. MORE

Feb. 2, 2013

New York City's two-week-old school bus strike will continue after officials of the National Labor Relations Board refuse to order its end, rejecting complaint brought by coalition of 20 private bus companies arguing that strike is illegal. MORE

Jan. 26, 2013

Federal appeals court rules that Pres Obama violated Constitution when he installed three officials on National Labor Relations Board through recess appointments in 2012; ruling is a blow to administration, and calls into question long-established precedent of recess appointments, which bypass Congressional approval. MORE

Jan. 26, 2013

Federal appeals court ruling that Pres Obama’s recess appointments in January 2012 to National Labor Relations Board were invalid leaves board in strange legal limbo; decision, if upheld by Supreme Court, could nullify more than 300 decisions made in 2012 by board and leave it with just one member, short of quorum needed to issue any rulings. MORE

Jan. 26, 2013

Editorial criticizes federal appeals court for ruling that Pres Obama's recess appointments to National Labor Relations Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are unconstitutional; argues decision breaks with 150 years of precedent and legitimizes disruptive legislative practices by Republicans. MORE

Jan. 22, 2013

Federal labor regulators, in a series of recent rulings and advisories, are ordering employers to scale back policies that limit what workers can say online; National Labor Relations Board says workers have a right to discuss work conditions freely and without fear of retribution, whether discussion takes place in the workplace or on social media like Facebook. MORE

Nov. 20, 2012

National Labor Relations Board will decide within days whether there is merit to Wal-Mart's complaint to seek an injunction to stop pending anti-Wal-Mart protests. MORE

May. 28, 2012

National Labor Relations Board says one of its five members, Terence F Flynn, has resigned after the board's inspector general found that Flynn leaked documents to two Republican associates, including an adviser to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. MORE

May. 22, 2012

National Labor Relations Board federal Judge Steven Davis sets aside an unsuccessful unionization election at a Target store in Valley Stream, NY, and orders a new vote; finds that Target managers had intimidated workers and violated federal labor laws. MORE

May. 15, 2012

United States District Court Judge James E Boasberg strikes down new regulations governing union elections, saying the National Labor Relations Board did not follow proper voting procedures when it approved the rules in 2011. MORE

Apr. 23, 2012

Editorial urges the Obama administration and Democratic lawmakers to issue friend-of-the-court briefs in support of the National Labor Relations Board, which is being sued by industry groups over a rule requiring that employers to post a notice in the workplace informing employees of their rights. MORE

Mar. 24, 2012

Report finds that Terence F Flynn, a Republican member of the National Labor Relations Board, improperly revealed information about the agency's private deliberations to outside parties who had cases pending before the board; matter has been referred to the Justice Department for investigation. MORE

Mar. 3, 2012

Federal judge Amy Berman Jackson rules that the National Labor Relations Board can require most private businesses to put up posters telling workers they have a legal right to form a union. MORE

Over half of the university’s graduate teaching and research assistants have signed forms saying they want to unionize, but the university says that treating students as employees could hurt their education.

The National Labor Relations Board has issued a broad ruling that could potentially bolster organized labor on campuses at a time when unions are pushing to represent the growing number of adjunct professors.